Wilkes-Barre, PA (May 1, 2015) – Junior Emily Hockman highlighted a five-run fourth inning with a two-run double leading the top seeded DeSales University softball team past fourth seeded King's College, 5-3, in the opening game of the 2015 Freedom Conference Softball Tournament.
 
The win moves the Bulldogs (15-13) into the winner's bracket as DSU will take on the winner of the #2 Eastern/#3 Misericordia game later today beginning at 4:00 pm.  The win is also the Bulldogs first-ever win over King's College in the Freedom Conference post-season in its eight career meeting.
 
King's (17-13) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning on a two-out single just off junior Michelle Gessner's glove with two outs but the Bulldogs immediately answered in the bottom of the frame.
 
Senior Carly Bartholomew singled with one out to start the rally.  Freshman Haley Frati singled and junior Samantha Gibson walked to load the bases with one out.  Bartholomew then scored on a wild pitch to tie the game and senior Annie Cosentino gave DSU a 2-1 lead with a single to left field.
 
Senior Kayla Adanalian singled thru the left side plating Gibson and eventually stole second base.  After a ground out from Gessner, Hockman laced a double over the leftfielder's head scoring two more runs as the Bulldogs took a 5-1 lead.
 
A steady rain started to come down a little harder as DSU took the field in the fifth and McCauley struggled to get a grip on the ball as she walked the bases loaded with one out but worked hard to get out of the jam with two fly outs.
 
King's threatened again in the sixth inning as the Lady Monarchs scored two more runs to pull within 5-3 before McCauley stranded the tying runs in scoring position.
 
DSU stranded a one-out single at second base in bottom of the sixth and McCauley worked around a lead-off double in the seventh inning, striking out Alizabeth Ellsworth looking to end the game.
 
The win was McCauley's ninth on the season as she scattered seven hits over seven innings, striking out six.  Hockman and Frati each had two hits to lead DSU's 10 hit attack.